Tokarski

It’s been a few days since the Duran Duran concert last week and I can’t get some of the music out of my head. I certainly have revisited my Duran Duran collection and have acquired a few new songs (Serious has become a favorite).

But, it’s funny that I remember being slightly annoyed that DD would have a warm-up act - ‘The Assassins’ - who the heck is that?

Well, their CD, “You Will Changed Us,” has been in heavy rotation since the concert and now I can’t get some of their songs out of my head. “Addicted” is especially good - it has a great industrial beat (reminds me of those dark nights at neo some twenty-odd years ago) and Merritt Lear’s breathy vocals are the crowning touch. Had it not been for the concert, I probably would have never run across this band. Serendipity indeed.

If you haven’t done so already, give the Assassins a try and support a great, local Chicago act.

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The brand new SearsCentre, about 5 minutes from my house, had its inaugural event tonight. And, since it was DuranDuran, I just had to relive a bit of my teen years. The initial draw was that the original 5 members were back together again; however, it looks as if the boys had a bit of a falling out and Andy Taylor - guitarist - is no longer a part of the band. Regardless, they sounded great and Simon LeBon’s voice is as great as ever.Tonight’s set list:

• Hungry Like the Wolf
• Union of the Snake
• Serious / Nice
• Is There Something I Should Know
• Come Undone
• What Happens Tomorrow
• Hold Back the Rain
• Some Like it Hot / My Own Way
• The Reflex
• The Chauffeur
• Ordinary World
• Save a Prayer
• Electric Barbarella
• A View to a Kill
• Notorious
• Sunrise
• Wild Boys
• Girls on Film (encore)
• Rio (encore)

In addition, they had a great opening band - The Assassins - a local Chicago group. I picked up their CD at the concession stand and was fortunate enough to get a few signatures.

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Highlights: Alonso and Renault clinch the championships; Schumacher comes in 4th in his last race and 2nd in the driver’s championship.Race result:

1. Massa (Ferrari)
2. Alonso (Renault)
3. Button (Honda)

Driver’s Championship

1. Alonso - 134
2. M. Schumacher - 121
3. Massa - 80

Constructor’s Championship

1. Renault - 206
2. Ferrari - 201
3. McLaren Mercedes - 110

The 2007 F1 Schedule kicks off in Austrlia on March 18, 2007. And, I just heard SpeedTV has a 3-year contract to televise F1 races….so, my happy race Sundays will continue.

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Boy, for a few moments, it was really coming down this morning. But, once the sun came out a bit later, all traces were gone.

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Highlights: last F1 race at Suzuka (next year the Japanese race will be held at Fuji); Schumacher and Alonso neck and neck in the driver’s championship points standings going into this race; Renault leading Ferrari by 1 point in the constructor’s championship; the Ferraris qualifying 1 and 2, the Renaults qualifying in 5 and 6 (with Toytas between them and the Ferraris); the Ferraris of Schumacher and Massa off well at the start…though Alonso was keeping them in sight; Schumacher’s dramatic and surprising engine blow up at lap 37 (last time he retired due to mechanical issues was France in 2000); Alonso wins.This has been one of the best, most vigorously contested seasons in recent memory. Great stuff.

Race result:

1. Alonso (Renault)
2. Massa (Ferrari)
3. Fisichella (Renault)

Alonso now leads Schumacher by 10 in the driver’s championship 126 to 116 points, with 1 race to go (the only chance for Schumacher to win the championship is for Alonso to not finish in Brazil and Schumacher to win; he’d take it in a tie breaker with more wins at that point than Alonso). In the constructor’s championship, Renault now extends their lead over Ferrari to 9 (195 to 186).

Next up: Brazilian Grand Prix, 22-Oct, 11:30 AM CST pre-race live on SpeedTV.

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We took advantage of the beautiful Fall day and spent a little time on the beach building sand castles and dipping our toes in the chilly Lake Michigan water.

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Highlights: After a great qualifying in the wet, the Renaults of Alonso and Fisichella were 1 and 2, with Schumacher starting back in 6th. With rain on Sunday, Alonso got off to a blistering start, but lost his lead after a tire change.Race result:

1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2. Alonso (Renault)
3. Fisichella (Renault)

Alonso and Schumacher are now tied in the driver’s championship with 116 points, with 2 races to go. In the constructor’s championship, Renault now leads Ferrari by 1 (179 to 178).

Next up: Japanese Grand Prix, 07-Oct (Saturday night), 11:30 PM CST pre-race live on SpeedTV.

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